Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-26
SOLDIERS, REUNION.
The Celebration of the Twentieth Ami
versary of Sumner Post.


On Thursday evening, the members of
Sumner Post, No. 3, G. A. r., celebrated
the twentieth anniversary of their organiza-
ton. There were present large number
of the members of Warren and Fair Oaks
Posts and Sumner and Fair Oaks Relief
Corps, and also the Sons of Veterans. Post
Commander l.. w. Estes presided as mas
ter of ceremonies, called the company to
ORDER, and IN few preliminary remarks
said: We have assembled tonight to cele-
orate the twentieth anniversary of the
organization of Sumner Post. Of the
original fifteen charter members who met
IN this city twenty years ago tonight.
there is but one now residing in Sacramento.
refer to General I. w. Sheehan, who is
unavoidably absent. Two or three others
reside in San Francisco, the remainder for
ought we know have gone to Join their
comrades who fell on g hundred battle
fields IN defense of our flag and our herit-
age"
Past Post Commander o. P Dodge, who
became member shortly after the organ
ization of the Post, was called for, and gave
history of the many difficulties the Post
had to contend with during the early DAYS
OF its existence. He said that it was not
an uncommon occurrence on Post night for
the few who had come to attend the meet
ing to organize into provost guard, and
scour the city for recruits, SO that a quorum
might be had at the meeting.
H. A. Burnett, Past Senior Vice Depart
ment Commander, was next introduced,
and spoke of the great interest taken in
Grand Army matters all over the country.
He also referred to the effort which were
constantly being made in the early history
of the Order by schemers, to use the Grand
Army to advance their own political inter-
est, but that long since the Grand Army
had thoroughly purged itself of that class.
and to-day our noble order has but one
central idea, and that idea is embodied in
fraternity, loyalty and charity.
Comrade G. Z. Adams, a Past Post Com
mander of Sumner Post, was next called
upon to give his experience as member.
He said twenty years ago the Post began
its existence with membership of fifteen
old soldiers, and that for years it was next
to impossible to get a corporals guard to-,
gether to attend the meetings, but that
since then times have changed, and to-day
old Sumner Post, which was named in
honor OF the man who saved California to
the Union, has on her roll, in good stand
ing, 160 members. In addition to that, he
said, we have two other Posts in the city,
always ready to aid in the good work of
the Grand Army.
Commander Estes next introduced George
W. Ficks, of Fair Oaks Post, but formerly
member of Sumner Post Comrade Ficks
said: II congratulated Sumner Post upon
the successful manner in which she to-
night celebrates the twentieth anniversary
O. her organization. Comrades, the birth of
your Post almost commences with the his
tory of the Grand Army of the Republic as
an organization. Only few months pre-
vious to the signing of that charter Major
Stevenson, OF Springfield, Ill.,. organized
the first Grand Army Post in the United
States, in the city of Decatur. From that
very moment the disbanded armies began
again to enroll themselves, not as before
for the field of confiict-but for the pur-
pose that ties welded together on
the field of battle, and the lessons taught
there, might be perpetuated for ever. To-
night our watch-word is Eternal vigil
lance is the price of liberty. Tonight
nearly four hundred thousand Grand Army
men are resting on their arms with this
grand motto inscribed in imperishable
characters upon their banners. When we
look around US to-day and behold the
prosperous condition of our order, it would
seem as if none had fallen from our ranks
during all these years but that is not so.
Nearly all of our great leaders have al
ready answered the last roll-call. AT this
moment the brave and gallant Logan,
together with Meade, Hancock, Burn
side, Custer, Mcclellan Hooker, and a
host of others, are tenting on fame's
eternal camping ground. Comrades, you
have seen these illustrious names all
stricken from our roll. But there is vet
another who must not be forgotten the
man who commanded all these forces is
not with us in person tonight. The man
above all men who led the nations forces
to victory and glory and challenged the
admiration of the world, has passed over
the last Potomac. The principles of the
Grand Army of the Republic will live for
ever. When treason's grave, dug by Lees
surrendered sword, shall have been forgot
ten, your works will stand as an imperish-
able monument in the hearts of people
that knows no North, no South, no East,
no West, but guard established and
united for the glory and common welfare
of generations yet unborn
During the evening Miss Needham, Miss
Bell, Mrs. Seadler and Mr.. Sanborn and
others entertained the large audience with
songs, Rotations and instrumental selec-
tons. The ladies of Summer Corps pro-
vided fine banquet in an upper room for
the occasion.